Chapter 29
“…This can’t be a dream.”
A foolish remark even he recognized as foolish slipped from Leonhardt’s parted lips.
Celine rolled her eyes.
“Good grief, Leonhardt. It’s not even nighttime yet.”
“I see.”
Leonhardt pressed himself against the bars and scrutinized Celine from every angle.
Her black hair… the outfit of her escort maid, now dirtied beyond measure.
He could understand that she had disguised herself as her escort maid, but he couldn’t quite fathom why her clothes had become so filthy.
“How exactly did you get here…?”
Celine cut him off with a sharp tone and fired question after question.
“It’s all skill, isn’t it? Or… how did it come to this! Is it true… that you harmed His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince? If it’s true, that’s a grave crime! I… I’m so worried… so worried…”
Her voice trembled, tears welling up, as she struggled to continue.
“No need to worry.”
Leonhardt exhaled a sigh.
“At most, it’ll last a week. Within that time, creatures that the knights alone can’t handle—or a dark mage—will surely appear. Then I can get credit for that and be released.”
For a moment, Celine was struck dumb.
Leonhardt spoke of his forced labor as if it were perfectly natural.
Over the past month, Celine had been on missions alongside Leonhardt.
Of course, he was strong, and most tasks were completed effortlessly.
Yet that didn’t lessen the burden he carried.
Every time Leonhardt casually mentioned such unreasonable duties, Celine felt the world darken before her eyes.
Leonhardt looked at her pale face, concerned by her sudden loss of words.
“Are you feeling unwell? Perhaps it was too much, coming here? Rest for a bit. No one comes by except at meal times.”
Celine still couldn’t utter a word. She felt that if she spoke, she might break down crying.
Leonhardt reached a finger through the bars and lightly touched the back of her hand.
“Sorry for worrying you. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine. You actually seem worse off.”
“I-I’m fine,” Celine managed to answer in a trembling voice.
“More importantly, Leonhardt…”
“I already said, at most a week,” he interrupted.
“There’s no guarantee you’ll be completely released!”
“Well, if not, Father will find a way.”
Leonhardt shrugged.
“Besides, this happened while obeying the Emperor’s orders. Ricardo can’t very well oppose it either.”
“…You’re optimistic, Leonhardt.”
“It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last.”
Celine’s eyes widened.
“H-harming royalty?”
“Oh, that’s a first.”
“Leonhardt!”
A smile appeared on Leonhardt’s lips. He had a way of making her happy with even the simplest words.
“At least, I should make sure it’s the last time.”
“I feel like I’ll die from nerves because of you…”
Clutching her chest, Celine felt a bit resentful that Leonhardt could joke about this situation while she was trembling.
Yet he still wore a faint smile, clearly enjoying himself.
“I’ve told you repeatedly, don’t worry. Truthfully, I’m more concerned about you.”
“Ah…”
Celine understood the meaning behind his words without any further explanation.
Aside from the fact she was a magician, she was just a regular commoner who had infiltrated Topien to meet a prisoner.
Simply using magic here could itself constitute sacrilege.
“As long as I’m not discovered. I’ll need to find a place to hide.”
“That’s a good approach too.”
Leonhardt nodded.
“But there’s also a way for me to get out.”
“…?”
“I can’t just watch you fret and hide everywhere.”
Celine’s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn’t believe the calm tone she was hearing.
“But if you come out, won’t it become even more troublesome?”
“I’ll be leaving anyway. Leaving early isn’t a problem.”
“Then why did you even let yourself be captured here in the first place?”
“To give Prince Ricardo time to calm down.”
Leonhardt took a pocket watch from his chest.
“Half a day has passed. That should be enough.”
“Leonhardt…”
Celine sighed.
“Is it easy to leave? Danny said that in central Topien, you can’t use magic.”
“I’ll go out through a person.”
“…?”
Leonhardt’s large eyes shifted rapidly—dazed, then sparkling, then incredulous—as he watched Celine.
What he was about to do might be utterly insane.
Until now, Leonhardt had been far from rebellious.
For over ten years on missions, even the slightest act of defiance against the royal family had never occurred.
Yet with Celine, he felt he could do anything.
No, right now, he had to.
“Uh… how will you get out? Surely not through Rashir?”
“Rashir’s gone. He won’t be inside Topien in the first place.”
“…!”
Celine’s cheeks flushed with anger.
Leonhardt never separated from Rashir except when sleeping in his room at Bernouilles Castle. Where he couldn’t carry a large sword, he kept a small dagger version tucked in his chest.
“How could you possibly leave Rashir behind!”
“That’s the only thing I resent. But I understand.”
Celine regained her composure. Anger alone wasn’t enough; the situation was far too serious.
“So how will you get out? You can’t just break the door down.”
“I’ll have them open it for me.”
“What… do you mean by that?”
“I have a good plan.”
Leonhardt didn’t explain in detail—not because he disregarded her, but because saying it aloud seemed a little ridiculous.
“Until dinner arrives, find a place to hide.”
“Understood.”
Celine eyed him suspiciously, then began scanning the room.
‘Is he planning to feign illness?’
But who would believe a ruse from the empire’s only magic swordsman, who had single-handedly faced a dark mage?
Moreover, Leonhardt genuinely looked ill when he was sick.
Though nervous, Celine decided to follow his instructions for the time being.
“How about here? To hide.”
Celine opened a dusty wardrobe and asked.
“No. It’s too dirty; you might suddenly feel like cleaning. My jailer seems diligent.”
“How about here?”
Celine pointed behind a large sofa.
“If the guard sits there, are you sure you won’t be found?”
“Darkness is under the lamp, as they say.”
“No.”
Celine suggested various hiding spots, but Leonhardt rejected them all.
“Then where should I hide? In the hallway?”
Leonhardt’s answer came a little slowly. After a brief pause, as if making a big decision, he said:
“Go back. That’s the safest.”
Celine’s reaction surpassed all of Leonhardt’s expectations. She openly scoffed.
“What do you think all this dirt is?”
Leonhardt looked closely at the maid’s outfit she was pressing forward.
The black, sticky liquid was all too familiar.
“Could it be…”
Leonhardt couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence. Celine’s cheerful voice answered instead:
“Don’t worry, it’s not my blood. I’ll sleep well tonight.”
“That’s a relief.”
Leonhardt exhaled in relief.
“But I nearly died. You’d really send me back there?”
“…Understood.”
Celine’s voice sounded almost playful.
“So, where’s the best place to hide?”
“…That wardrobe.”
“That’s where I suggested first!”
Leonhardt avoided her persistent gaze.
“All other places are worse; that’s the best option.”
“Of course, I suppose so.”
Celine crawled into the wardrobe, testing it. A brief cough from the dust, but otherwise comfortable enough.
“There’s nothing important here. I was expecting more.”
“If there were, that would be a problem. You might open it looking for something.”
“Good. Just cleaning tools then.”
They rehearsed until the dinner-guard arrived.
Step 1: When the guard approaches, Celine hides in the wardrobe.
Step 2: Leonhardt escapes from prison.
Step 3: After Leonhardt and the guard leave, Celine emerges from the wardrobe.
Steps 1 and 3 weren’t difficult. Step 2, however, seemed impossible to Celine.
“Now tell me. What will you say to get out?”
Leonhardt studied Celine, who seemed determined not to back down.
“Nothing fancy. Just convince them it’s time for my one use.”
“….”
Assuming Celine didn’t understand, he quickly continued.
“Tell them monsters appeared near the capital and I must go fight them.”
“That won’t work!”
Celine raised her voice. How could Leonhardt, trapped here all this time, know that monsters had appeared?
“It will.”
Celine flinched. Leonhardt spoke with unwavering confidence.
“…Can I really believe you?”
“Yes.”
Celine asked no more.
Time was running out.
If Leonhardt’s plan failed, she would remain trapped here until the original plan allowed him to be released.
Footsteps approached.
“Get in!”
Leonhardt whispered. Celine hurried into the cabinet and closed the door.
With only a sliver of light entering, she could only guess what was happening outside by sound.
“Master, dinner is served. The main course is duck braised in white wine, which you enjoyed during your stay in Levron,” came a voice so polite it could have been a servant.
Leonhardt’s firm voice cut through.
“Herpez, was it?”
“Yes! Y-yes!”
“Herpez, now is not the time for duck. Monsters appeared outside the capital.”
“Yes…?”
Celine couldn’t believe her ears. She expected doubt or confusion.
But Herpez’s voice was utterly flustered.
“Master… really…?”
“Yes.”
“I-I’ll report and return at once!”
Celine bit back a gasp of amazement.
All of this was happening because of one lie from Leonhardt.
